Embracing Juliette (Texas Heroes: Station 9 #1)

Chapter 42

42

Juliette

I held it together for a few more minutes until I felt his hand go slack in mine, and then I lost it.

He’d woken up. He’d looked at me and said he was okay. For two excruciatingly long days, I didn’t know if I’d get to see those beautiful eyes ever again, but I did. I choked back a sob, but I couldn’t stop the shaking that took over my body. I didn’t want him to see me like this when he woke up again—and now I knew that he would. Thank God.

“Come here, Juls.” Liam said, tugging me out of the chair I’d been in since Dylan was brought to this room. I let him pull me up and into his arms. “He’s okay. Better than okay.”

I nodded against his chest, gripping his shirt like he could hold me together and keep the overwhelming fear at bay.

“You’re okay, too. It’s normal to fall apart now. It was too hard to feel all the emotions when he…before he woke up, but now that we know he’s okay, it’s all gonna come out.”

I nodded again, and if Liam wasn’t holding me so tightly against him, I wouldn’t have been able to stand. He was right. All the emotions of the last two days were washing over me like a tsunami.

Brady came over and laid a strong hand on my shoulder. “He knew exactly what was going on. He’s going to be good as new before you know it. I’m going to go tell a nurse and update everyone in the waiting room.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “I’m sure his family will come in as soon as they hear he was up.”

“Thank you,” I whispered to both of them as I straightened up and wiped my eyes. Brady gave me a chin lift and walked out. Liam went back to his chair on the other side of the bed, while I rinsed my face in the sink, dried it with a paper towel, and returned to the seat I’d been in day and night for the past forty-eight hours.

Dylan’s dad had tried to suggest that I leave while his parents and brothers were with him, but Ryan came to my rescue, and no one had asked me to move since. It was hard when his family was there, though. His parents and brothers were nice, and it wasn’t that I didn’t want to be with them, I just couldn’t stomach the guilt I felt watching their agony. His mom’s tears were like daggers to my heart, and his dad’s were even worse.

Thank God Dylan’s friends seemed to get that, and they often suggested that his family take a rest or get something to eat while they stayed with him. I was forever indebted to these men, and I was so grateful Dylan had such amazing friends to work with. One or more of them had been here with Dylan and me nonstop, and they’d refused to leave even when I tried to send them home for some rest. Ryan said Dylan would kick their asses when he woke up if they left me alone, and I let it go because I liked having them there. They constantly brought me food and checked on me, and no one said a single word about how long it took me to get help to him.

In my head, on the other hand, it was a battle for which voice was the loudest. Sometimes I was proud I’d made it to the fire station and got help. Even if it wasn’t perfect, it could have been so much worse if the firemen didn’t get there when they did. Sometimes I was able to be objective and say, thank God he was alive, and the doctors said he’d probably be okay, so nothing else matters. But other times, I couldn’t stop myself from spiraling into the thought that he wouldn’t be in this situation at all if I’d been able to get help to him faster.

The door opened and despite my inner turmoil, I couldn’t help smiling at the joy on his parents’ faces. After two days of drowning in our fear, it felt good to have a reason to smile.

Dylan’s mom ran a gentle hand across his cheek, then came straight to me, grabbing my hand in both of hers. “He was awake? Did he speak? How did he seem?”

“He was wonderful. He looked right at me and said, ‘I’m okay.’” I left out his coughing and how it sounded extremely painful for him to talk. Let her bask in this joy while she could.

“Do you think he’ll wake up again soon? I can’t wait to see him!”

“Um...”

Ryan jumped in for me. “He’s still heavily medicated, so that will keep him asleep more than awake. I’m sure he’ll be awake more often soon.”

“Yes, of course, I wouldn’t want him to be in any pain. I’m sure he was glad to see you when he woke up, Juliette. Thank you for staying with him.”

“I, uh, I could never leave him. I love him.”

She pulled me into a hug. “I see that, sweetheart. When Dylan’s up to it, you and he will come visit for a long weekend so we can get to know each other under better circumstances.”

“I’d like that a lot.”

Dylan’s dad came over and put his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s all sit and relax. We still have a long day ahead of us.” She nodded and they sat down to wait with me.

I settled back in my chair and wrapped the blanket around myself, drifting off into the most peaceful sleep I’d had in two days.